The Death of True-Data: Political Branding in Action

Take from this article information about personal branding, what to look for when trying to distinguish brand from action, and why separating brand from policy is vital.

Selling your personal brand isn’t anything new. Musicians, politicians, and public figures sell themselves to the public instead of their music, policy, or actionable business solutions. In some cases it really works out, Trump, Putin, and Courtney Love all did really well with their personal brand, even though their actions do not merit the level of attention that they received.

What is Personal Branding?

Personal branding is important for a public figure. It connects a person with ideologies and humanizes their actions into a consumable form. It makes that asshole who raised your taxes look nicer: someone you would drink a beer with,someone you would eat an onion with, someone who you shouldkeep away from your livestock.

Some beginningsteps to a personal brand are image control, taking advantage of content creation, and focusing your off-line presence to match your brand. Using a personal brand means that you’re selling yourself on-line. And it is necessary if you want the buzz.

Can Branding Breed Bad Solutions?

There are some aspects of personal branding that have a huge effects for defining a brand, but don’t dilute the message. Things like using photoshop to make your face more desirable or choosing images of yourself that look professional instead of picking that one from your crazy ski weekend (unless that’s what you’re into) are great. They don’t change the message, but still alter public perception. The main concern is when branding dilutes the message.

Controlling the narrative around your story and sticking to your personal brand to avoid taking actionable solutions is where it gets really sticky. In politics (and many other things), communication is very important, but poorly communicating solutions can be frustrating for your voters. Especially if that sort of communication spreads hate or divides a nation.

For example, if your brand is to be divisive and against your opponent, instead of saying, “I agree that there might be some errors in the way that we count votes” you might tweet something like “three million illegal immigrants voted.”. This brand of message doesn’t actively address the problem and adds a bit of xenophobia to the conversation about legitimate voting. Even worse, it also lends support for higher voter registration standard! Which isdangerous because it disenfranchises poor or minority voters. Sticking to a toxic brand can breed a toxic message, especially if people like the brand or if the brand spreads deceptive information. Your brand is causing more harm than good. This is one scenario where sticking to a brand dilutes the problem and ends up actively promoting a bad solution. Branding can be positive, but it can also bring in bad solutions if the brand is overshadowing the solution.

You can sometimes distinguish a brand from the actual message, by looking at the difference between pre-campaign statements and political actions. Other times it can be almost impossible, especially if the brand over-powers the message. Those are the bad-brands to watch out for. They can breed bad solutions.

Policy is what makes changes in the world. While policy is influenced by the thoughts and the deep rooted beliefs of the people, it has more control over real, sustainable change. Policy is what builds a better world (or a worse one).

If a politician’s poster is photoshopped to be a little less wrinkly or if a candidate’s speaking is more focused around their central brand goal of “a better life for all people,” you can normally assume that their actions and policies that they pursue will be for the betterment of all people. It’s good personal branding because it combines policy and emotion without diluting the statement. However, a personal brand built around hatred for other people fuels hatred and can move policy in devastating ways.

Branding matters because it can hide the real message. Breaking down those emotional brand cloaks and getting to the real message can help you look at policy more objectively and respond less intensely. You’ll sound smarter and have better points to change your mind and others’.

There are a thousand messages out there. When you look at them without the brand value, but as individual items, it’ll help you sort through what is right for you. What is right for the society. And what the important problems and solutions are moving forward.

Mary Grace, an independent liberal from the United States, lives in the beautiful Boise, Idaho, and adores her mountains. She loves skiing, hiking, and repairing vintage bicycles. If you want to chat, or have any questions, feel free to tweet her @marmygrace.

Mary Grace, an independent liberal from the United States, lives in the beautiful Boise, Idaho, and adores her mountains. She loves skiing, hiking, and repairing vintage bicycles. If you want to chat, or have any questions, feel free to tweet her @marmygrace, or send her an email marmgrace@gmail.com

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